WHO: 63 confirmed and probable Ebola cases, 29 deaths in Uganda
“So far, 63 confirmed and probable [Ebola] cases have been reported, including 29 deaths. Ten health workers have been infected, and four have died.”
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus:
“First to Uganda, where WHO is continuing to support the government to respond to an outbreak of Ebola disease in four districts. So far, 63 confirmed and probable cases have been reported, including 29 deaths. Ten health workers have been infected, and four have died. Four people have recovered and are receiving follow-up care.
WHO has released US$2 million from our Contingency Fund for Emergencies, and we’re working with our partners to support the Ministry of Health by sending additional specialists, supplies and resources. When there is a delay in detecting an Ebola outbreak it is normal for cases to increase steadily at the beginning and then decrease as life-saving interventions and outbreak control measures are implemented.
The vaccines used successfully to curb recent Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are not effective against the type of Ebola virus that is responsible for this outbreak in Uganda. However, several vaccines are in various stages of development against this virus, two of which could begin clinical trials in Uganda in the coming weeks, pending regulatory and ethics approvals from the Ugandan government.”
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Since the initial Ebola outbreak was discovered in the central district of Mubende, infections have been found in Kassanda, Kyegegwa and Kagadi.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has vowed not to impose any lockdowns to tackle the disease, saying last week that there was “no need for anxiety”.
Uganda had confirmed 10 deaths, with Museveni specifying that 19 other probable Ebola cases had also died, but said they were buried before they could be tested for infection.
The last official Ebola figures issued by the Ugandan Ministry of Health were three days ago:
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